In the past the man has been first; in the future the system must be first. This in no sense, however, implies that great men are not needed. On the contrary, the first object of any good system must be that of developing first-class men; and under systematic management the best man rises to the top more certainly and more rapidly than ever before.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that in order to succeed, systematic processes should take precedence over individual contributions, while still valuing the development of strong leaders.
Frederick Winslow Taylor emphasizes the idea that in the progression of society, the structure and systems in place should be prioritized over individual achievements. He argues that while great men are essential, a well-designed system is critical for fostering leadership and enabling talented individuals to emerge and excel. This perspective promotes the importance of systematic management in cultivating high-quality leaders more efficiently than in the past.
In practice
In a corporate training session to emphasize the importance of systematic leadership development.
On a film set, there are runners who are 19, it's their first job, but to me they're as important as anybody else because if they don't do their job then nobody else can. So I don't think anybody should be treated disrespectfully or as if they're of a lower status.
You have to get along with people, but you also have to recognize that the strength of a team is different people with different perspectives and different personalities.
For me, I've learned that the best thing is to focus on the team you play for and yourself and what you need to do.
Leaders lead but in the end it's the people who deliver.
Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.
Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument of ambition.
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